Remote optical sensor with optical fiber for brake condition monitoring

An apparatus for monitoring condition of a braking system, the apparatus comprising:

• a brake pad with a friction material, a first plurality of light transmission fibers, and a first plurality of optical image fibers, wherein the first plurality of light transmission fibers and the first plurality of optical image fibers are positioned on top of a backing plate of the brake pad, wherein the friction material is positioned on top of the backing plate of the brake pad;
• a first end of each of the first plurality of light transmission fibers coupled to one or more light emitting-diodes and a second end of each of the first plurality of light transmission fibers directed towards a contact surface of a brake rotor;
• and
• a first end of each of the first plurality of optical image fibers coupled to an image sensor and a second end of each of the first plurality of optical image fibers directed towards the contact surface of the brake rotor,
• wherein the first plurality of light transmission fibers and the first plurality of optical image fibers are configured to capture an image of at least a section of the contact surface of the brake rotor.